Spring-wheel.



No. 889,782. f v PATENTBD JUNE 2, 1908.

' s. w. HIGGINS.

SPRING WHEEL. APPL'IOATIZON FILED nu 31,1907.

wrrmzsszs: 3 INVVENTOR UNITED s'rA Es PATENTOFFICE. A

SYLVESTER W. HIGGINS,

OF DETROIT, MIOHIGAN-, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK H. FARNSWORTH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPRING-WHEEL.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 31, 1907. Serial No. 876,491.

l Patented June 2, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it lrnown that I, SYLvEsTER W. 'HIG- ems, a citizen of the United States of 'America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels, of which the following is a and especially to the ty specification, reference being had therein to t e accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vehiclerwheels e wherein resilient members are interpose between the hub .and rim to maintain them in yielding relation. In wheels of this class it is customary ,to secure the resilient members rigidly to the hub and rim.

One of the features of this invention is a frictional engagement between the parts which permits free oscillation while it obviates the necessity of rigidly bolting or otherwise fastening the spring members to the I hub and rim.

The invention consists in the, matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

Referring to the naming, Figure 1 is a :view in side elevation, with parts removed or broken away, of a wheel embodying the salient features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section through the wheel; Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly in section of an alternative form of constructidn Fig. 4

, is a similar view showing another arrangeof the wheel.

nular channel bar with. mtu-rned slightly flared flanges 4, provided, if desired, with a groove 5 in its e'riphery for retaining a resilient tire, or t e rim may itself form the closed spring are interposed between .the rim-and hub in close pressed, contacted relationwith each other and the rim and .hub.' :These "may ment of parts; and Fig. 5 is a view in section throu h a wheel rim.

In the drawings, 1 represents a wheel hub, adapted to be keyed 'or ournaledon the shaft or axle of a vehicle. A central collar 2 is formed on the hub and a felly or rim 3 concentric with the collar forms the outer part Said rim is preferably an an tread. p

A plurality of symmetrically disposed ops of fiat, spring metal bars,

comprisea number of 'ci-rcular members-'6 in tangential contact'with'the periphery of the hub and the inner face of the rim etween the flanges 4, which prevent lateral displacement.

- the rim and Or some of the circular spring members 6 may touch both the rim and hub, while auxiliary circular members 7, of less diameter, may. be interposed when desired to support the rim between the larger members. Another desirable form of springs, consists iii a plurality of elliptical loops 8 with their major axjes radially disposed, the outer curved rim and their adjacent sides in contact for a portion of their length. The inner ends 9 of the elliptical members are preferably wedgeshaped and fit into corresponding recesses in the periphery of the collar of the hub. Small circular springs 10 are interposed between the divergent outerportions of the ellipses beyond theircon tacting points. It is to be understood that all of these spring members are normally 'in compression between each other and the retaining hub and to each other or tothe rim.

collar against lateral displacement, as well as transmit torsional strains between the hub the grip hers is sufiicient to transmit torsional strain from the hub to the rim, the flaring flanges of the latter likewise being so disposed that Qthes'prings partially wedge themselves into usually distributed onthe spring members in approxin atelyivertical lines through the hub, and is moves these partstional'engagement, thus not afiepting the reends pressing against the inner face ofthe.

. rim, and are preferably not riveted or'bolted To retain the spring members on the hub the flange and central hub. These flanges sufficient'force so that the multiple efiect of of the flangeson all the spring memand rim, a pair of flanges are secured on the these flanges as 11 may be'p'ermanently sethem. At the same time, since the load is therefore localized, it readily against their local fric silienoy ofv the wheel materiallyand aidingin absorbing the recoil..

purposes aswell as a'bearing wheel, it is de* 7 When the wheel is to be used for traction sirable to furnish suitably disposed radial ribs or arms 16 lying between the spring members. These arms may be formed integrally with the hub or one of the flanges.

-When the elongated or ellipsoidal springs are used, an equivalent of the ribs consist of a set of staples 17 loosely encircling the con' tacting parts of the springs and engaging one 'rangement of parts save as set forth in ceror both'of the flanges. Likewise, the inner wed e-shaped ends of the ellipses may be rigi y attached. to the hub collar by any suitable means.v

; Obviously the design and arrangement of parts may be varied without de arting from the spirit of the invention and do not care to limit myself to any particular form or artain of the claims. What I claim as my invention is I 1. A vehicle wheelcomprising a hub, a

ing inturned marginal flanges, .a plurality of' closed loops of flaflspring metal, interposed between the hub and rim, in close-pressed tangential contact with each other and the hub and the rim,'and a pair of flanges secured on the-hub adapted to frictionally engage the edges of the springs for a major portion vof their extent.

3. A vehicle Wheel comprisin a hub, rovided-with a central collar an paralle retaining flanges on either side of the collar, a

rim normally concentric with the collar having inturned flaring marginal flanges, and a plurality of closed spring loops held in compression between the collar and inner periphery of the rim in close contact with each .iother, said springs having wedged frictional enga ement with the rim flanges,-and fric- -tiona sliding engagement'for' a greater portion of their extent with the hub flanges. 4. A vehicle wheel comprising'a hub, ro-

yided with a .central collar and paralle 're'-,

taining flanges oneither side of the collar, a rim normally concentric with the collar having inturned flaring marginal flanges, and a lurality of closed-loops offlat spring metal eld. in compression between the collar and inner periphery of the rim in close contact with each 'other,'said loops having inde endent frictional engagement .with the aring rim flanges and frictional sliding engagement for a greater portion of their extent with said hub flanges. 1 5. A. vehicle wheel comprising a hub, prov spring meta vided with a central collar and arallel retaining flanges on either side of the collar, a rim normally concentric with the collar,.hav inginturned'flaring marginal flanges, aQplurality of closed loops of flat spring metal, held in compression between the collar and inner periphery of the rim'in-close c ont'act with each other, said loops having independ- Iii) ent, marginal wedging frictional en agement with the flaring rim and frictional s iding en- 1 gagement for a greater portion of their extent with said hub flanges, and means to adtional engagement.

ustably secure said hub flanges in such fric- 6. A vehicle wheel comprising a'hub, a rim \gQ normally concentric with the hub having in turned, marginal flanges, a plurality of closed loops interposed between the hub and rim in close-pressed contact with each other and the hub and rim, a pair of, parallel flanges adj ust'ably secured on the hub on each side of the springs, adapted to fric- I tionally engage the edges of the s rings for. a major portion of their extent, an a plurality ofstops limiting the movement of the spring loops around the hubs.-

' 7. 'A vehicle wheel comprising a hub, arim normally concentric with, the hub, having in-. turned marginal flanges, a plurality of closed loops of flat spring metal interposed between the hub and rim in close-pressed contact with each other and the hub and the rim, a pair of flanges secured on the hub adapted to frictionally engage the edges of the springs for a major portion of their extent and a plurality of stops limiting the movement'of thespring 'loopsaround the hubs.

8. A vehicle wheel comprising ahub, a rim normally concentric with the hub, having in turned marginal flanges, a plurality of closed. loops of flat spring metal interposed between the hub and rim, in close-pressed tangential contact with each other and the hub and the rim, a pair of flanges secured on the'hub adapted to friotionally engage the edges of the springs for a major ortion-of their extent and a plurality of ra ially dis osed stops inter osed between some of the oops linnting t eir movement around the hub.

9. 'A vehicle wheel comprising a hub having a centrally indented periphery, a rim concentric with the indented portion of the hub, provided with inturned flaring flanges, a plurality of ellipsoidal loops of spring metal with their major axes radially disposed, and their inner ends adapted to engage the indentations in the hub, in compression between the hub and rim and 'eachother, a plurality of closed circular loops in compressionbetween the outer portions of the-ellipsoidal loops and rim, and a pairof flanges on the hub adapted to 'frictionally' engage the edges of the spring loops for a majorportion of their extent.

10. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub, havand rim and each other, a plurality of closed j major axes radially ing a centrally indented periphery, a rim concentric with the hub provided with inturned flaring flanges, a plurality of ellipsoidal loops of flat spring metahwith their isposed, and their inner ends adapted to engage the indentations in the hub, in compression between the hub circular lo'ops of flat spring metal in compression between the outer portions of the ellipsoidal loops and rim, and a pair of flanges on the hub adapted to frictionally. engage the edges of the spring loops for a major portion of their extent.

1 l. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub having a centrally indented periphery, a rim concentric with the indented portion of the hub, provided with inturned flanges, a plurality of ellipsoidal loops of spring metal, with their nia'or axes radially disposed and their inner ends adapted to engage the indentations in the hub, in com )ression between the hub and rim and each ot ier, a plurality of closed circular loops of flat spring metal in compression between the outer portions of the elli soidal loops and rim, a pair of flanges on t e hub, adapted to frictionally engage the edges of the spring loops for a major portion of their extent and stops limiting he move their inner ends adapted to engage the in;

deiitations in the hub, in compression between the hub and rim and each other, a plurality of closed circular loops of flat spring metal in com )ression between the outer portions of the c lipsoidal loops and rim, a pair of flanges on the hub, adapted to frictionally engage the edges of the spring loops for a major portion of their extent and radially disposed stops secured to the hub interposed between the ellipsoidal loops limiting tllClI movement around the hub. h

In testimony whereof I. aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, SYLVESTER WV. HIGGINS.

Witnesses: OTTO F. BARTHEL,. ETHEL -M; HIGGINS. 

